By Matt Carroll -
This session is designed in order to provide players with a framework for decision-making regarding their first touch. The session challenges players to observe the spatial positioning of the opposition in order to take a touch that most effectively allows them to find ways to break opposing lines. Often we associate touch with being able to kill the ball dead or bring a ball down out of the air, but an effective touch away from one's body into space can be just as, if not more effective.
The first drill for the session is a normal passing line but players are tasked with taking their first touch into a box set up about 10 feet away from where they receive. The key to this is that they drive the ball into the box with pace, but are able to meet the ball and control it in the box. They should also meet the ball in a way that that touch takes them into position to pass to the next player in line.
Next, half the team should be placed into a rondo, the other half should be placed within the rondo with a ball. The players inside the grid with the ball look to pass to one of the players in the rondo circle. Once they do they replace the receiving player in the circle and the receiving player looks to drive their first touch as far into the middle of the circle as possible. While the drill is unopposed, the center of the circle will be a flurry of activity since a number of other players will also be looking to find someone to pass to or also driving into the circle. In this way, this drill combines the technical focus of the last drill with decision-making based on visual cues (where the other players are or will be, on the pitch).
After this, the players should be split into two teams inside a 40x40 grid. 2-3 players on each team should be placed outside of the grid as bumper players. Play begins as a game of keep away but when a player passes to one of the bumper players on their team they have to replace that player as the bumper. Just as in the previous drill the bumper player then needs to take a touch into the grid and replace the passer. Since this drill is now opposed they must make a decision whether it is more advantageous to drive into space with a large touch or take a shorter touch to protect the ball or draw the opposition into their space. In this way, the session builds on decision-making and makes the application of the skill more game-like.
Finally, the session ends with a scrimmage where the coach puts a specific focus on ensuring that players are making the correct decision with their first touch, as demonstrated in the rest of the session.
By Matt Carroll
